AN 18-year-old biker has died after colliding with a car near Guisborough.

Matthew David Robert Heath of Fir Rigg Drive, Marske, was on the B1269 Redcar Road when the crash occurred at around 2.30pm on Saturday.

Three other people were also injured on motorbikes in separate incidents on Teesside over the weekend.

Mr Heath was riding an Aprilia motorbike when it collided with a Land Rover Freelander 300 metres south of Dunsdale Tip.

The accident happened on a left hand bend, before the road drops down a hill, near to the entrance to the Carlin Howe waste disposal site.

Police sources said the biker was travelling towards Guisborough and the Land Rover Freelander towards Dunsdale when the collision occurred. No other vehicles were involved.

Mr Heath’s family were too distressed to talk this morning.

Near the crash site was one bouquet of flowers which read: “Matty, I’ll miss the crack! This makes no sense at all. Take care, RIP, Paul Corker.”

Less than two hours later another motorcyclist was lucky to be alive after being knocked off his bike in Redcar.

The man, who police believe to be aged around 21 and not from the area, was riding a Yamaha motorbike along Lord Street when he was in collision with a red MG ZR which was travelling towards the High Street at the traffic light junction with Redcar Lane.

Several drivers abandoned their cars and ran to help the man who was thrown from his bike, across Redcar Lane and on to the pavement at the other side of the road.

An air ambulance was called to the scene to treat the biker who had serious leg injuries and swelling to his head.

One driver who witnessed the accident said: “He is lucky to be alive. He flew right across the road.”

A third motorbike accident took place on the A66 on Sunday.

A 57-year-old man and his pillion passenger were seriously injured after the motorbike they were riding collided with a car on the eastbound carriageway of the A66, 200 metres east of the A19 flyover.

Police are today trying to piece together what caused the smash at 2.20pm.

The man who was riding the bike sustained multiple limb injuries and fractures and was taken to James Cook University Hospital on a spinal board.

The 34-year-old woman who was riding pillion, suffered multiple fractures to her right arm. All occupants of the car escaped uninjured.

A teenager who smashed into a parked truck on a motorbike in Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, on Thursday night remains in a critical condition.

The 14-year-old, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, has been transferred to Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Police said his liver was ruptured, his jaw was broken and he suffered serious head injuries.

Any witnesses to the accidents should call Cleveland Police on 01642 326326.